Thailand’s COVID-19 Vaccine Expected in 2024

BANGKOK, Sept 15 (TNA) – Thailand’s homegrown COVID-19 vaccine would complete trial processes next year and its use was expected to start rolling out in 2024, according to a government spokeswoman. Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul quoted the Public Health Ministry as reporting progress in the spending of 995 million baht from the government’s contingency fund in the 2020 national budget to locally-developed COVID-19 vaccine. According to her, 596 million baht was spent for preparing the industrial production of viral vector vaccine. The preparation was completed. Meanwhile, 365 million baht was used to develop the 1st Gen ChulaCoV-19, Wild-type vaccine and the 2nd Gen ChulaCoV-19 vaccine for new variants. The production of the 1st Gen ChulaCoV-19 was delayed due to the changes of its production process. For the 2nd Gen ChulaCoV-19 vaccine, its trial with animals will continue until next May. There was also a 34-million-baht project to develop facilities to test vaccine in primates. The laboratories should start operation between November and next January. The development of mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 by Chulalongkorn University would enter the third stage of its clinical trial next year. It will precede registration with the Food and Drug Administration and then the vaccine’s use for people. The registration was expected in 2024, Ms Traisuree said. Meanwhile, Chulalongkorn University and Baiya Phytopharm Co are developing the Baiya SARS-CoV2-Vax vaccine from tobacco leaf protein. Its registration for use was also expected in 2024, she said. Besides, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization and the PATH institute of the United States would begin the third clinical trial of the inactivated NDV-HXP-S vaccine late this year and it should be registered for use next year, Ms Traisuree said. She also said that the National Science and Technology Development Agency tested the intranasal Ad-5 Wuhan vaccine and found it effectively stimulated antibodies in animals. It would be developed to cope with emerging infectious diseases in the future, the spokeswoman said. (TNA)